Well Known Roads

 

As the stranger enters the country store, he spots a sign: “Danger! Beware of Dog!” Down one aisle he spots a harmless old hound asleep in the middle of the floor. “Is that the dog we’re supposed to be aware of?” he asked the store owner. “That’s him,” comes the reply in an old slow southern drawl. “Well, he doesn’t look dangerous to me. Why would you post that sign for such a harmless old dog?” The store owner looked down at his beloved dog, then up at the stranger and said, “It’s more for the safety of the dog than the people. Before I posted that sign, folks kept tripping over him.”

One blade at a time. That’s how the last remaining Inca rope bridge is rebuilt every year. The Q´eswackaka bridge spans the Apurimac River in the Cusco region of Peru. For 600 years, communities from both sides of the bridge have been assembling to cut down the old bridge and rebuild with a new one – totally out of local Ichu grass. Women of all ages participate in the gathering of the grass and using it to brad into ropes, which the men of the communities will take and twist into strong cables. The braver of the men will use the cables to build a strong enough bridge to support travelers across the gorge for the next year. The total process of bridging the gap takes only three days, and the completion of the bridge requires total cooperation from both sides of the gorge.

This world is full of roads that may remind us of, or symbolize, many things. Perhaps the mention of “The Yellow Brick Road” brings to mind the exciting adventure to see the “Wizard of Oz.” “Abbey Road” will remind some of the Beatles. The “Burma Road” will remind a much older generation of a 717-mile-long road through mountainous country of China that was built by 200,000 Chinese laborers from 1937 to 1938 and later used by the British to transport war material during World War II.

Then there are roads noted in the Scriptures. The “Jericho Road” mentioned by Jesus in the parable of the “Good Samaritan” that might symbolize a ROAD TO SERVICE (Luke 10:33-35). The “Road to Gaza” where Philip met up with the Ethiopian treasurer might be noted as a ROAD TO DISCOVERY as Philip helped this man understand the One of whom Isaiah wrote was Jesus, the Messiah (Acts 9:1-8, 17-18). Then there was “The Road to Emmaus” on which Jesus walked with two disciples who were pondering the Lord’s death, burial, and the report of an empty tomb (Luke 24:13-35). Perhaps that road could be called “THE ROAD FROM SORROWING TO SEEING”.

[Matthew 7:13-14] “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” What makes roads significant and memorable is what occurs on them and to where they lead. On what road are you traveling throughout this life? Is it a well-traveled highway or faint path less traveled. What is occurring along the way? Where is it ultimately leading?

Jesus implied the choice boils down to two ways leading in opposite directions. One road leads to disappointment and death (spiritually), while the other to hope and Heaven (spiritual everlasting life). Though the road on which we would follow the Lord may be difficult at times, it will be worth the challenges, since it is the one leading to everlasting life in Heaven with God. (Jeremiah 6:16) “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls…’” Though it may not be a well-worn path of the many, keeping our eyes on Jesus who is “THE WAY” (John 14:6), we won’t get lost on THE KING’S HIGHWAY.

Feeling A Debt To Sinners

 

A $1 bill met an old friend, the $20 bill, and said, “Hey, what’s up? I haven’t seen you around here lately.” The $20 bill said, “I’ve been hanging out at the casinos, went a cruise, saw a couple of baseball games, that kind of thing. How about you?” The dollar bill said, “Oh, you know, the same old thing; church, church, church.”

What would you think of a person who was deeply in debt to someone else and all the time this person had the ability to pay off the debt but didn’t? What if the person to whom the money was owed was naïve, poor, and ignorant, so that the debtor could avoid paying off the debt? What would your opinion be of the debtor? You would probably be outraged of the lack of moral integrity, would you not?

During the Civil Wars in England a man on the Isle of Man was accused of treason and sentenced to death. The king eventually granted him a pardon. The pardon fell into the hands of a bitter enemy of the condemned man, and it was never delivered to the jailer. The man from the Isle of Man was executed. What do you think of someone who possesses a pardon which could have saved another person’s life, but he fails to deliver it, whether intentionally or by neglect? Again, would you not be outraged at the insensitivity and inhumanity of this person?

The story is told of a man who carried a small can of oil with him everywhere he went. If he passed through a door that squeaked, he’d put a drop or two of oil on the hinges, and if a gate were too hard to open, he’d oil the latch. So, he passed through life lubricating all the squeaky places, making it a little more pleasant for those who followed him. There is no telling how many lives you and I could keep from rusting and squeaking and how many gates we could open to happiness, if only we would apply a little oil of human kindness and brotherly love to those we encounter throughout our day. Let us use it wherever we go, for there are many lives hardened and rusting away in sin.

[Romans 1:14-15] The apostle Paul wrote, “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and unwise. So as much is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.” Paul said that he was a debtor to the people of the world. Of course, Paul was in debt to God for His marvelous grace. Paul was in debt to Jesus Christ for His substitution sacrifice of atonement at Calvary. Why should Paul feel a debt to the sinners of the world - most of them he never met, many of whom were his enemies? Paul felt the obligation because God called him to be an apostle. Paul was “separated to the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). Paul possessed the payment to save others from spiritual bankruptcy. He possesses the pardon from the King to save them from being executed. He had the gospel, the good news of Jesus. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).

We possess this very same gospel today which has the identical saving power as it did in the first century. The needs of people today for salvation are just as pressing as those of Paul’s world were. Should we not feel the same debt of obligation to others to share the good news of Jesus Christ?

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength; and whosoever loves much, can accomplish much; and what is done in love is well done” Vincent Van Gogh.

“Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too” Will Smith.

Having A Kind Of Godliness

 

In the woird we lvie in tehre are tihngs thai smoetiems jsut dno’t seem rihgt. Tehre are otehr teems when things are blatantly wrnog, and stcik out lkie a sroe thmub. Hvae you eevre ntoiecd that wehn you are porof redaing soemthnig taht you hvae written, taht yuor eye deos not cacth an erorr? Geiv it 10 somoene else to raed and tehy sopt it rihgt aawy. Why is tihs? Colud it be taht we are too colse to the sitaution?

Okay, enough with the fun. However, I hope you do see what I’m trying to convey with the overemphasizing of the misspellings.

It’s widespread practice for most states to issue examines to high school students who are nearing graduation. These pupils are given more than one chance to pass this test before they can participate in a graduation ceremony. Are some students passing along just because administrators do not know what else to do with them? Perhaps some children don’t understand what it means to have structure, yet they expect to perform miracles at the eleventh hour, so to speak. A test of a child’s knowledge is based on how much they have learned and how well they retain the information fed to them by teachers and textbook data. Their future hinges upon whether or not they go to college based on their test results.

Likewise, teachers are given competency tests and are given more than one chance to pass, and with an overall passing score they may become certified to teach. Prospective teachers are evaluated for their knowledge, which is based on how much they remember and how well prepared they are to instruct our children. Teachers must pass the tests because their future depends upon their dream job. Some students cannot pass the exams and ironically some teachers cannot pass their exams – this is an enigmatic problem.

[Acts 17:22-23] … “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an alter with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD…”

In any sizeable community one will find the building of various denominational groups. Nearly all professing a different doctrine from the other. The apostle Paul noticed something similar in Athens. Now, if I’m looking at this in a logical way, I would say that not all the denominations can be right in their doctrine. Something is wrong somewhere. Most of them, I will admit, have a form of Godliness, just like the misspellings above. There is enough of the words spelled correctly (their teaching) that one can make it out, yet they are not totally truthful and correct. In John 4:23-24, Jesus reminds us that God is Spirit and said that true worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is a command to the believer. How do we know if we are true worshippers – the kind that God wants? The answer is really simple – by studying. God wants His people to know the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

“When We All Get To Heaven” makes me think of death as a graduation ceremony. Like a classroom, we already know that we will have an exit exam. John 12:44-50 plainly states that God will examine us in the end by His every word and our belief in Him.

Did I do my part to help others? Was I courteous even when I wasn’t in the mood? Did I honor my responsibility to the church? Did I respect the rights of others? Did I make righteous choices? This is one exam that we don’t get to retake until we receive a passing grade. Are you sure you’ve been taught the truth? Can you say unequivocally you are worshipping God the way He wants to be worshipped? 1 John 5:13 – Eternal life awaits.

Independence Is Dependent

 

One cold, rainy night, in a small mid-western town, the telephone rang in the house of a doctor. The caller identified himself and said his wife needed urgent medical attention. The doctor was understanding and said he was willing to come and attend to her needs but explained that his car was being repaired and asked that the man come and pick him up. The man angrily responded, “What! In this weather?” Oh, aren’t we selfish silly people?

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

This is the last line of the Declaration of Independence, and it shows us two things in particular about the patriots who signed it: They depended on God and they depended on each other. That last bit sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it - how they depended on God and each other? How is that independence? How can you depend on someone or something, and at the same time declare your independence? We like to think that Independence Day - that grand 250^th anniversary just celebrated - is all about allowing every American to stand alone, as a rugged individual - forgetting that Independence Day is about the independence of a nation, not of a bunch of people looking after their own interests. It’s terribly easy, in our contemporary culture, to forget that hard-earned lesson: that we are inevitably dependent. The pioneers on the frontier knew: • how, if you had to raise a barn, you couldn’t do it without your neighbors; • how, if you fell sick, you could depend on the people in the next cabin to fetch the doctor; • how you could look across the valley through a snowstorm and see from the lantern in the window that you were not alone. The founders of our country knew you couldn’t have a declaration of independence without a corresponding declaration of dependence - that we are dependent on God, and we depend on our neighbors to help us. Let us give thanks today for our nation’s independence. But let us also give thanks that we are blessed with so many people who help us. They help us with visits, with health care, with our daily meals and so much more. We are blessed in so many ways! (Carlos Wilton and Timothy Merrill)

[Psalm 131] “Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely, I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, (O America) hope in the Lord; From this time forth and forever.”

In my mind, one of the things that proves to me the Bible is the Word of God, is it’s view of life and death. It gives an honest approach to living. There are no myths, no fairy tales, and in many cases no happy endings. God’s Word deals with the greatness and the failures of the lives of God’s people. The Bible shows us how to live and the results of not living that way. It speaks of salvation and condemnation; it presents joy and great sorrow. It deals with real life in a brief statement of fact and then goes on with the story. Think how our news media would deal with some story in the Bible like Adam and Eve being forced out of the garden. It would be on the five o’clock news, the ten o’clock news, and the story would for at least or more about how harshly they had been treated. But in God’s Holy Word its briefness is a sign of its divine nature.

The Bible remains a number one best seller and the least read book in the world. If every household in America, and the world, would dare to read God’s Word and follow its precepts there would be peace and wisdom in every land. That would be so pleasing to God.

Commitment

 

John Claypool shares this story in “Leadership” Vol. 12, No.1 – “Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the Catholic church and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of St, Paul’s, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of ‘Taps’ – the universal signal that says the day is over. But then came the most dramatic turn. As Churchill instructed, as soon as ‘Taps’ was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of ‘Reveille.’ ‘It’s time to get up; It’s time to get up; It’s time to get up in the morning.’ That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be ‘Taps,’ it will be ‘Reveille’.”

Death surrounds us, we cannot escape it and we can’t escape constantly hearing about it. Turn on any TV news program and the lead story will almost always be about some violent death. Pick up any newspaper and usually somewhere on the front page will be a story that deals with someone’s death. Some are uncomfortable with this constant reminder of our mortality. Death is something we will all face someday. No matter how religious one is; no matter how good one is; someday all will face death and face the maker of all things. How do you view death? How have you prepared for this eventuality? Do you face our mortality with confidence or fear?

[1 Thessalonians 4:13-18] Churchill’s understanding is straight from the scriptures. Paul’s writing is encouraging concerning death. The key to these verses is found in the first verse, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” The word ‘brethren’ directs Paul’s address to ‘Christians” in Thessalonica. “Christian” is a descriptive word that is given to those who are obedient disciples of Jesus Christ. For those who serve God it is not a matter of life or death, it’s a matter of life and continuing life in a new location. Maybe it’s time to consider if you are ready for that day. Eternal life with God or eternal suffering in hell.

Commitment is the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself. It is regarded as a pledge or a promise. When we became Christians, we committed ourselves to take up our cross and follow Christ daily. This commitment is for a lifetime. In Christianity there is no such thing as a temporary commitment or a partial commitment.

When the pilot of a giant airliner is speeding down the runway, there is a certain point where he cannot decide to remain on the ground. When he crosses that line, he has to commit to the air. If he doesn’t, the plane will run out of runway and crash disastrously. That pilot cannot change his mind when the plane is two-thirds of the way down the runway. He must make his decision from the beginning and stay with it to become airborne.

Many members of the church have obeyed the gospel, leaving the old man of sin; but they seem to sit at the beginning of the runway revving their engines – but never moving. They have been saved but have never gotten engaged in their faith. Christianity is not a spectator sport Everyone must compete against an enemy who is out to get their soul (Ephesians 6:10-13; 1 Peter 5:8). This is not a competition where winning or losing does not matter. It is a competition with eternal consequences. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Our faith in Christ is a commitment with no end. Let’s not spend our time gunning our engines on the runway. Let’s take off!